Maggie’s Son in laws and tools..

[flyer]

I'm dealing with a Brother-in-law who is starting a business and dealing with contractors but he is one of the least mechanical people I know.

I looked at the blueprints and can see many errors and omissions the contractor has made and they are really late too. Now I'm telling my bil what to say to the contractor but it's like a game of telephone and the contractors are walking all over him.

I thought they were about ready to open but now it looks like about 22' of cabinet might need to be replaced and the ceiling might need to be torn up to fix the lighting.

One problem I saw is that they might be trying to draw about 2,400 watts from a single electrical outlet. I identified a nearby circuit that could be used to share the load and there is already wire in the wall where he needs an outlet but he is scared to ask for a change because it was not in the plan...

I guess he would rather have a fire hazard and blow circuit breakers.

I like to think I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I can drive a steam locomotive smoother than he can drive an automatic transmission SUV. I can lay track and change a tire too. Framing, roofing, plumbing, septic, electric and simple carpentry are things I have done. I've cut cars in half and put them back together. I've dabbled in hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, etc.

For some reason he didn't ask me to take a look until he was about 4 months behind schedule.

I can be a dick sometimes but that's just self abuse or stupidity to let things go that bad before asking for help.

One thing about me is that I have taught many women how to use power tools and do metal fabrication. Usually it is easy because they are motivated. My brother-in-law seems to avoid learning anything about physically building his business because I guess he thinks he can run the business without knowing anything about how it works.

I don't think he knows anything about running a business either so I hope he doesn't bankrupt my sister but she's a pain in the ass too so I just do my best and wash my hands.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

I'm dealing with a Brother-in-law who is starting a business and dealing with contractors but he is one of the least mechanical people I know.

I looked at the blueprints and can see many errors and omissions the contractor has made and they are really late too. Now I'm telling my bil what to say to the contractor but it's like a game of telephone and the contractors are walking all over him.

I thought they were about ready to open but now it looks like about 22' of cabinet might need to be replaced and the ceiling might need to be torn up to fix the lighting.

One problem I saw is that they might be trying to draw about 2,400 watts from a single electrical outlet. I identified a nearby circuit that could be used to share the load and there is already wire in the wall where he needs an outlet but he is scared to ask for a change because it was not in the plan...

I guess he would rather have a fire hazard and blow circuit breakers.

I like to think I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I can drive a steam locomotive smoother than he can drive an automatic transmission SUV. I can lay track and change a tire too. Framing, roofing, plumbing, septic, electric and simple carpentry are things I have done. I've cut cars in half and put them back together. I've dabbled in hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, etc.

For some reason he didn't ask me to take a look until he was about 4 months behind schedule.

I can be a dick sometimes but that's just self abuse or stupidity to let things go that bad before asking for help.

One thing about me is that I have taught many women how to use power tools and do metal fabrication. Usually it is easy because they are motivated. My brother-in-law seems to avoid learning anything about physically building his business because I guess he thinks he can run the business without knowing anything about how it works.

I don't think he knows anything about running a business either so I hope he doesn't bankrupt my sister but she's a pain in the ass too so I just do my best and wash my hands.

Key words there is "wash my hands..."

Management has the right to manage or mis-manage as they see fit. What's that other line,,, you can't miss fast enough in a gun fight. (something like that)

 

[SCRAM2013]

Working in the oil patch, you will see all manner of tool misuse. Wrench for hammer, hammer for wrench, screw driver for pry bar, etc.

This is a serious issue. Folks get hurt.

I only have two FNG's. One mexhanical engineer and one fabricator. They are sharp people and study by numbers. Math is good.

I don't like doing things twice and it bothers me to a high level. However, an individual that cannot figure out what wrench to use standard Vs metric just wears on me.

E

 

[LeftyJason]

This is a serious issue. Folks get hurt.

I only have two FNG's. One mexhanical engineer and one fabricator. They are sharp people and study by numbers. Math is good.

I don't like doing things twice and it bothers me to a high level. However, an individual that cannot figure out what wrench to use standard Vs metric just wears on me.

E

... unless it is 19mm or 3/4.

 

[lightman]

Good job with your boys! In California boys are socially discouraged from showing competence because it makes the feminists unhappy. This is what has produced my nephew who at 37 years old, and straight, doesn't know what a car tune up is. WOMEN ARE TURNED OFF BY INCOMPETENT MEN! But he was raised in a feminist dominated home and now he can't hold on to a girl. This is all over California now. For example, I had a young couple renting a unit from me in San Jose. This guy was a moron and his girlfriend knew it and she was so unhappy with him. I mean, over live FaceTime video I asked him to measure the window width for some blinds and he takes the tape measure and measures from the outer edge of one molding on the left to the edge of the glass on the right! I said you need to measure to the same edge on the other side and his girlfriend says "give me the tape measure" and she had to take the measurements! She was so pissed with his incompetence. This is what feminism has brought to our country.

Thanks for the kind words. I didn't think about the feminism thing being related to this.

Around here its not just the boys that are raised up to work on and fix things. A few of my friends Wives have driven combines when needed and even tractor trucks. A couple of friends Daughters can clean their own deer, although we do it for them. And these Wives and Daughters are feminine looking, Lady like and pretty.

 

[SCRAM2013]

... unless it is 19mm or 3/4.

Or 1" vs 25 mm? Still ain't the right tool

E

 

[LeftyJason]

Or 1" vs 25 mm? Still ain't the right tool

E

19mm =. 748"
25mm =. 984

.002" doesn't really matter on bolts. I have grinded diameters for jet engine parts that can vary by more than that.
.016" matters.

 

[SCRAM2013]

19mm =. 748"
25mm =. 984

.002" doesn't really matter on bolts. I have grinded diameters for jet engine parts that can vary by more than that.
.016" matters.

I'm with you. If we are working on some non-essential equipment, go for it. 19.05 is .750. 1 is 25.4. they are not the same, but work if you need it to...carefully.

.001" is important to me. Maybe not to others and I understand that. Y'all are successful and so are we. Right tool, right job is my point.

E

 

[S Roche]

“We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now expected to do everything with nothing.”

It was in a frame above the door to the Lineman's Room when I was a Journeyman in the early 70's. Manager didn't like it much but we cut him some slack as he was a navigator in a B-24 during WW2

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

The rules I laid out for every new employee were simple
1. I would rather you attempt something and fail than doing nothing. No one learned anything by doing it right every time.
2. Tools make money. Each and every one of them has a purpose. If a tool breaks no big deal. You break a tool by misuse. You've bought it and it's coming out of your next check.

 

[powdahound76]

I grew up without a lot of money.

My dad fixed things for a living and was an electrician by title. He repaired big metal working equipment (heavy cutters and grinders, later big CNC and robots) for Eaton Corp in their big rig transmission plant.

We did everything ourselves. Car repairs beyond the basic excepted, just wasnt my dad’s thing.

Our house needed a new foundation. My dad did it. I was about 6. Still remember it well.
New sewer, dad did it too. I was 7-8 I think.

A few years before retirement, he looked at the projects he wanted to complete on his house. Re-siding he did himself, saved about 15k.
Built a new shed. Saved 8k vs paying out. Ran electrical to new shed.
New roof.
New deck out back.
New front deck.

Did hire out the new hvac. And removing a 62” diameter oak hit by lightening. Said those are jobs for pros and I agree.

I have done almost all my own work but an emergent sewer repair and HVAC (new furnace and AC).
The time it would take to do a job well would piss off my ex wife. The thousands saved never did. Never understood why she would get pissed about a man working. Guess that doesnt matter anymore.....

I have a lot of tools. Get called on to help people sometimes, close friends I will help.
Never ask for anything as friends help friends.